Results 3,861-3,880 of 9,442 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (24 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is responsible for the National Driving Licence Service (NDLS), and all applications for a driving licence must be made through the NDLS. The Covid-19 restrictions have caused large backlogs in the area of driver licensing. The service was closed during the first lockdown, was operating with limited capacity in the months...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (24 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: A receipt issued from the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) for an application received for a driving licence or learner permit is not acceptable in lieu of the permit or licence. Due to the resurgence of Covid-19 in Europe as well as Ireland, possible further extensions of driving licences are currently under consideration at EU level. A decision on this issue...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry (24 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Government continues to advise against non-essential international travel and that essential travel is undertaken with due regard to public health safety measures. Given the current epidemiology situation and public health concern at the implications of increased transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 via the emergence of new variants, the Government recently strengthened the public health...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (24 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 130 together. The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant local authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (24 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is responsible for the National Driving Licence Service (NDLS), and all applications for a driving licence must be made through the NDLS. The Covid-19 restrictions have caused large backlogs in the area of driver licensing. The centres were closed during the first lockdown, were operating with limited capacity in the months following re-opening and are now...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Military Aircraft (24 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: My Department has no function in relation to this matter. I have forwarded your question to Shannon Group plc. for direct reply. If you do not receive a reply from the Company within ten working days, please advise my Private Office.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (24 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: All enquires relating to driver licensing are handled by the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS), provided by the Road Safety Authority (RSA). My Department does not have access to individual applications and cannot comment on individual cases. I have referred the question to the Road Safety Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry (24 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: As the Deputy is no doubt aware, air passenger rights are protected by Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004, which covers the rights of passengers in instances of flight cancellations. Under the Regulation, if an airline cancels a flight then customers are entitled to a full cash refund within 7 days. Mindful of the position that Government has taken in relation to international travel in the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (24 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: All enquires relating to driver licensing are handled by the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS), provided by the Road Safety Authority (RSA). My Department does not have access to individual applications. I have forwarded the Deputy's query to the RSA for direct reply. If he has not heard from them in 10 working days I would ask that he contact my office directly.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (24 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Ireland has entered into a driving licence exchange agreement with the UK. Under this agreement, a UK licence holder is permitted to exchange their driving licence for an Irish licence with the equivalent categories. An exception to this is where a licence issued in another (third) country, that Ireland does not have an exchange agreement with, was previously exchanged for a UK licence....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (25 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Government has put in place a range of supports for businesses, including those in the aviation sector. The supports include the wage subsidy scheme, alleviation of commercial rates, deferral of tax liabilities, the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme, the Credit Guarantee Scheme, and the SBCI Working Capital Scheme. As regards supports specifically targeted at the protection of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (25 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The aviation sector is one of the most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with all airlines seeing a severe depletion of revenue and facing various degrees of financial challenge. The knock-on implications for our airports have also been severe. My officials and I have maintained regular contact with key stakeholders throughout this crisis, and Government has put in place a range of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (25 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Driver Theory Test has not been deemed to be an essential service under Level 5. As a consequence, the service is closed while Level 5 restrictions remain in place. Candidates who have a theory test scheduled up to 5th March will be contacted via email with a rescheduled appointment. The service will remain closed until at least the 05 March. While I fully appreciate the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (25 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The operation of the National Car Test (NCT) service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, and I have no role in individual cases. I have therefore referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Traffic Fines (25 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: My predecessor raised the penalty for parking in a disabled bay without displaying a valid permit from €80 to €150 in March 2018. While I cannot condone the selfish and irresponsible practice of a certain cohort of motorists parking unlawfully in disabled bays, I believe that the current level of penalty is proportional to the offence, and I have no plans to increase it at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ports Development (25 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: As the Deputy is aware Drogheda Port Company, as a Port of Regional Significance, transferred to Louth County Council in October 2017 and is no longer directly under the remit of my Department. I am however aware that Drogheda Port Company has announced it is to develop a new deepwater port, to be located on the Meath coast north of Bremore Head. I understand that the Port Company is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic (25 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The weekly aviation statistics compiled by my Department with assistance from the airports and published on gov.ie give headline statistics on passenger numbers at our airports for the previous quarter.

Seanad: Covid-19 (Aviation): Statements (26 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I am grateful to be invited to the Seanad this afternoon. I am pleased to speak to the House on the impacts of Covid-19 on aviation. As the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has spoken about plans to introduce mandatory quarantine for international travellers, I will not address that matter but I am happy to speak further on it in my closing remarks if that is required. The aviation sector has...

Seanad: Covid-19 (Aviation): Statements (26 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank all the Senators who made a contribution here today on this critical issue. I really appreciate the Senators' comments. I have heard their concerns loud and clear. On mandatory quarantine, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, outlined earlier today that the Government has introduced a Bill to provide for mandatory quarantine in hotels for travellers arriving in Ireland from certain...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Network (3 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50, 58, 61 and 81 together. I have reviewed the report referred to. I am aware of the serious decline in mail volumes and the impact that Covid-19 has had on footfall through post offices and on the postal network. A lot of work has been done over the past few years to develop the post office network and this has had a positive...